Clarifier for saccharine solutions



March 23,1926. 1,578,221 v R. VACHIER CLARIFIER FOR SACCHARINE SOLUTIONS Filed Oct 15, 1925 I ammruiux M u, A

Rafcwl Vac/Liar Patent ed Man 23, 1926.

UNITED .STATES ctAnIrm-n roe SAGCHARIKESOLUTIOAISQ a vJ Application flled' October To all whom itmag concern:

Be it known-'that I, RAFAEL VACHIER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Baton Rouge, in the parish of East Baton centralfopening a at the bottoma Th e u per end of the liquid chamber is, part y closedby theitruncated hone A", forming ,la scum ohamber, which is open at the top 6 Rouge and State of Louisiana; have inand terminates 'inxthehollow cylinder A.

vented certain, new and useful Improve- Mounted within thelshell are a series of .ments in Cl ar'rfiers for saccharine fiolutionsy hopper like bafile cones B, B, B and B,

which are secured' at ftheirxupper edgesto 15 and more especially for the clarification of with removable water-tight "covers.v

and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a' full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which .it appertains tdmake and use the same.

the interionofthe-slfill arid are provided at their'lower ends with h llow, cylindrical ductsb, 6'', Band 6 v i also provided with suitable manholes A for My presentinvention relates to im'prove cleaning purposes, andwith suitable' wash ments in clarlfiers for saccharine solutions,

the raw juice jrom sugar cane. Such juice comlng from the..m1ll ordinarily carries wlth I it morewordess solid matterfin the formof the mud at the bottom 'of the"clarifier, and

small pieces of bagasse, fragments of leaves, wax, scale, as well as more" or less, dust or mud from the field, which adheres to the stalks and passes through the mill with thestalks, being washed away with the juice and maceration. water.

These solid particles tend ,either, to fall. by gravity in the-juice when quiescent or to form a. scum, and this scum is increased by the coagulationof the albumen when the raw juice is subjected to high enough temperature to coagulatethe same. The separation of. thesolid parti'les either upwards or downwards is further facilitated by the addition of lime or other chemicals well knowmin the sugar art. I V

- My invention is especially intended to separate the scum at the top of the clarifier,

to draw ofli the clear; liquid from which these solid particles have been removed for holes a, these being ordinarily provided I The raw juice is admitted througli the f inlet pipe Qfrom 'thejflash tank D, 1s suppl1ed with juice from the mills through the pipe D. This pipe 0 terminates at its lower end in the circular pipe C, vided with a series of perforations c, I

discharge pipe for vthe scum E has its inner end e pro ecting upwards.inthe; center of the ring C, and telescoping over this end a is "a sleeve 7 of the scum cone F. .This scum .9 I e. outer shell is which I cone is preferably made vertically ad'ustablefas by the slings 'g and screw G,w ich screw engages the handwheel -H, which is interiorlyscrew-threaded to engage said screw G and bears upon the beam I, s anning the open top, of t e cylinder A. 1 y turning this handwheelH, the scum conemay be raised or lowered, as desired, so that the to of said cone'may beradjusted to the desire height above the normallevel of the juicein the cistern indicated by the line :v- -w.

The juice is heated in the upper part of the clarifier by means of the steam coil 'J' fed with heat medium throu h the pipe J,

40 subsequent evaporation and further treat and the condensed steam an vapor is carment, well known in this art.

My invention will' cc more fully under-l 'ried off through the steam trap J to the hot well, not shown; Lime or other -rea ents may be admitted to the igrtly' clearliquid at theibottom of the cone 5 by means'of the annular pipe K, having the nozzles k,wh1ch pipe K is su plied with limeor other reagent throng thelpi p'e K fffro n the com stant pressure re-agent supply tank L, whlch is supplied M represents the clear juice trough, which with said the 1-0 receives its clear juicetlirongh the, N, I

V'-shaped annular chambers, formed," by the of, the

5o chamber A, which is also provided with a bathe cones'and' the'outer shell of 'theicl ari-ll qfierl The is carried oif from this clear P Y {slice trough. for further treatment, as well oWn inthe'art. I Suitable te's't'oocks may be provided at any portion pfthe shell, and referably in g-the 1 wer portionifliereoflns s own. *Jour- This hollow shaft P; carriesarrns Wide fahholl'ow rotar '1 I Q, c onhected'to the shaft nalle in the axis of themud chamber I roshgftP; perfdi'ate as ow of water therefrom, liedxt-hrough' the pipe tion bearings R.-* i his shaft casries'a worm- .wlhe el S driven by the worm S, shaft may be" given a slowm'otary 'IIlOiZlOIL-QX,

sotha't the T and T;

to which? the scrapers U are connected, .ad-

justmentbein'g given to' thse-scrapers means of'tlie sta s'V and turnibuclgles 'v.

These scra rs U'rotate inside of the conical mudcham r. The shaft; P also has clamped or otherwise secured thereon the hub W, to which the scrapers W" areattach which scrapers rotate above theiipnical bottom A. ;The

a of the" shaftca ries a dispersionvcone Water-for liquidation may be supplied a the spray pipes.

'. Suitable valves ar and be carried- The raw' a r .the fl h tank,.and thence qu etlyinto the through the pi e Y and the mud and'water are carried 0 through the -mud pipe z, which may be spread-out, if desired rough tus wherever needed.

" Having-thus described the construction of the apparatus'.-in detail, its operation can v g v adm1ss1 on ,0f.a man to wash out'or repa r now be explained. r a. 'uice from: the mills flows into upper portion of the scum chamber, the scum are-x of the liquid will overflow into the scum cone F,

off. As some juices yield more'scum, or. thicker scum than others, t

? is'desirable to have the overflow scum cone vertically" adjustable. Thev heating coilin -jthe lower portion of the scum chamber will coagulate the albumen,

01 risecarrying along with itother solid par f, phoric acid orhny other contenientalkali 1q d *b 8: b 't l maximum clarification is- Sprayed-mto the p means for supplymg'the liquid to be clarivj H uidj-throughth'e nozz'le'ska,

. y Yapply1ng-the re'eagent at th s stage of liquid subjected to the :ijltimate reaction :ticles, such as"wax, pectins', bagacillo, etc., thusf 'add' I normal leve of the liquid and, overflowing intopthe'scum cone. After the liquid the heating gone, a certain quantity of to the scum rising above the passes dovv nward throu h hos ac id-or oint of sired reent, such as'flime,'fsoda ash,

a is ga ned,

theprocess a distinct adv'an o e. impurities tlueTYto the fact that 1 some of t htjjbe' Adi" lved 1 if said saccharine the hollow J c supplied to the apparia "prisin before the liquid isiheated to the desired 7 the subsequent operations of evaporating,

'. etc-., well ,known in the art.

The mud andheavier particles of solid matter will pass around the dispersion cone inclined bottom W,

trough -M, whenceit will be carried ofi-for art ofFthe solid matter dropping" on the and the rest finding its This chamber is as'completelyenclosed as 1 possible," in order to keep the decanted impurities from being upset by the eddy and othercurrents on the uppermost layers of liquid-andalso 'enabling one to obtain said,

impurities in the most consistent way.

Q As the mud accumulates it may bescraped oil by-ihe scrapers U-an-d- W, and it may be drawn ofithrough the drain pipe Z.

I In order to facilitate. cleaning outxlfetbottom of the clarifier, water may be su plied under presspre "through the "pipe and sprayed through the openings p in the hol low shaft P. Also, water may be sprayed plied through the liquidation pipes Y. Suitable manholesxA. ar provided forthe the. interior of the clarifier, and -s 'u itablo in through'the jet 2 into the drain passage Z. Water or other; liquids may also be ap- Wash? holes aare also provided to facilitate cleaning out the "interior of the apparatus.- f'It--'will.lbe obvious, that various modifications might be made in the herein described apparatus and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, which. could v be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean tolimit the invention to such details, except as parl andthis will-tend to. tlcularly pointed out, in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what Patent of the United .States'is:

I claim and desire to secure by Letters cy'lin ricalfliquid, chamber with' ,a down ward-1y inclined conical bottom openat" its center, a' lower mudchamberin the formfjof an inverted hollow truncated cone, be-. 7 low said bottom, and-anupper scum chain:

' ber in 'the form of a truncated hollow cone,

fiedfto. said scum.chamber,mean s for heat-' 1 ing the li uid in said scum chamber, a series of inverte truncated hollow-bathe cones projectin 'downwardlyinto saidshell, and each flow cone mounted in the scum chamber, with means for carrying oil the scum from said,

overflow cone, means for carrying ofl' clear liquid from the upper portions of the V- cones and the outer shell, a rotaryhollowperforated shaft projecting up through the axis of the mud chamber, scrapers carriedby said shaft for scraping the bottoms of said liquid chamber and of said mud chamber,

means for supplying Water underpressure to said shaft, means for rotating said shaft. and means for carrying off the mud and liquid contents fronrthe bottom of said mud chamber. 7 4

2. A clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having a central cylindrical liquid chamber with a downwardly inclined conical bottom open at its center, a lower mud chamber in' the" form of an inverted hollow truncated cone, below said bottom, and an upperscum chamber in the formof a truncated hollow cone, means for supplying the liquid .to be clarified to said scum chamber, means for heating the liquid in said scum chamber, means for in- 'jecting a reagent into'the liquid belowthe fheating zone, a series of inverted truncated hollow bafile cones projecting downwardlyv into said shell, and each provided with a cylindrical bandat its lower open end, a verticaly adjustable scum overflow cone mounted in the scum chamber, with means for carrying off the scum from said over- -fiow cone, means for ca'rrymg ofl'the clear liquid from. the upper portions of the V- shaped annular spaces between said bafile cones and the outer shell, a rotary hollow perforated shaft projecting up through the axis of the mud chamber, scraperscarried by said shaft for scraping-the bottoms of said liquid chamber and of said mudchamber, m'eans for supplying water under pressure to said'shaft, means for rotating said shaft, and means for carrying oil the mud and liquid contents from'the bottom of said mud chamber. l

3, A clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having a central cylindrical liquid chamber with a. downwardly 'inclined conicalbottom open at its cente'r,a

lower mud chamber 'in the form of an inverted hollow truncated cone, below said bottom, and an upper scum chamber in the form of a truncated hollow cone, means for supplying the liquid to be clarified to said scum chamber, means for heating the liquid in said scum chamber, means for injecting a re-' agent into said liquid below said heating zone, a series of inverted truncated hollow baflle cones projecting downwardly into saidshell, and each provided with a cylindrical band at its lower open end, a vert1call yadjustable scum over flow conemounted 1n the scum chamber, with means for" carrying ofl' tween said bafile cones and the outer shell, shaped annular spaces between said battle a'iota'ry shaft projecting up tln'oughtlle axis o'fthe mudchamber, scrapers carried by said shaft for scraping the'bottoms of said liquid chamber and of saidmud chamber, means for rotating said shaft, and means for carrying off the mud and liquid contents from the bottom of said mud chamber; 4. A clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having a central cylindrical liquidv chamber with a downwardly inclined conical. bottom open at its center,

a lower mud chamber in, the form of an inverted hollow truncated cone, below said bottom, and an upper scum chamber in the form of a truncated hollow cone, means for supplylng 'thejliqui-d to be clarified to said scum chamber, means for heating the liquid in said scum chamber, a series-of inverted truncated hollow bafile cones projecting clear liquid from the upper portions of the V-shaped annular spaces between said bafile cones and the ,outer shell. a rotary shaft projecting up through the axis of the mud chamber, scrapers carried by said shaft for scrapingLthe bottoms of said liquid chamber andof said mud chamber, means for rotat- 'ing 's'aid'shaft, and means for carrying off the "mud and liquid contents from the bottom of ,said'mu chamber. I a

.- 5. A 'clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell'having a central cylindrical liquid chamber with adownvwardly inclined conical bottomopen at its center,- a lower mud chamber in the form of an invertedihollow truncated cone, below said bottomfand an upper scum chamber in the forn pof a truncated hollow cone. means for supplying the liquid to be clarified to said scum rchamber, means forheating the liquid i said scum chamber, va. series'oi inverted truncated 'hollowbafile cones prointo saidshell, and each jecting down-wardl lindrical band at its lower provided witlpae cy open end, means for carrying 011' the scum from said overflow cone, means for carrying 011 the clear liquid from the upper portions of the V-shaped annular Jspaces between said baflie conesca ndthe outer shell,

a rotaryfhollow perforated shaft. project ing up through the-axis of themu'd cha-mber, scrapers carried by saidshaft for scrap mg the bottoms of said liquid. chamber and of said mud chamber, "means for supplying water under pressure to said shaft, means.

for rotating said shaft, andmeans for c arrying off the mud and liquid contents from thebottomof said'mud chamber. w

6. A clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having-acentral cylindrical liquid chamber with .a downwardly inclined conical bottom open at its center, a lower mud chamber in the form of an inverted hollow-truncated cone, belovi said bottom, and an upper scum chamber in the form of a truncated hollow cone, means for supplying the liquid" to be clarified to said scum cl1amber, means for heating the liquid in said scum chamber, a series shaped annular spaces cones and the outer shell, a rotary shaft of inverted truncated hollow ba-flie cones. projecting downwardly into said shell, and each provided with acylindrical band at its lower open end, means for carrying off the scum from said overflow cone, means for carrying off the clear liquid from the upper portions of the V-shaped annular spaces "be-- chamber."

7. A clarifier fo'rsaccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having a central cylindrical liquid cha her with a downwardly inclined'conica bottom open at its a center, a lowerfmud chamber in the .form of an inverted hollow truncated cone', below said bott 'm, and an upper scum chamber,

means' f0 supplying the liquid to'be clarifi ed to said scum-chamber, a series of inverted truncated hollow baflle cones projectingdownwardly into said shell, means for carrying ofi the scum fromsaid scum chamber, means-for carrying off the-clear liquid from the upper It10IlS'.0I E the V- tween said bafile projecting gu'p through the axis of the; mud

chamber, scraperslcarried bysaidshaft for; scraping the bottoms o'fsaid liquid chamber audof-s'aid mud chambenfmeans for lotating said 'sha' ft, and means for. carrying cit the mud andliquid contents tom of said mud. Y

mud and liquid 8.. A clarifier for saccharine solutions comprising an outer shell having a central cylindrical liquid chamber with a down- ,wardly inclined conical bottom open at its center, a lower mud chamber in the fornr ofgan inverted hollow truncated-cone, below. said bottom, and an upper scum chamber, means for supplying the liquid to be 'clarh liedto said scum chamber, means'for heat-- ingthe liquid in said scum chamber, a'

series of inverted truncated ho11ov v baflle cones pr0 ect1ng downwardly mto said shell, means for carrying off the scum from said scum chamber. means for carrying off the clear liquid from the upper portions of the V-shaped annular spaces between said baflle cones and theiouter shell," a rotary holloW perforated shaft projectingup through the axis of the mud chamber, scrapers carried by said shaft for scraping the bottoms of.

said liquid chamber and of said mud chain-- ber,'means for supplying water under pres sure to said shaft, means for rotating said' shaft, and means for carrying all the mud and liquid contents mud chamber.

9.A- clarifier comprising an outer shell having a" central from the bottom ofsaid for saccharine solutions cylindrical liquid chamber with a; downv wardly inclined conical bottom open at-its center, a lower mud; chamber in the form of an inverted hollow truncated cone, below said bottom, and'au upper scum chamber,

means 'for'supplying the liquid to be clari-- fied t o said scum chamber, a series of inyerted truncated hollovy baflie cones projecting. downwardly into said-shell, means fordfltcarrying off the scum from said scum chain ber, means for carrying oil the clear liquid. from the upper portions of the Vgshaped projecting up through the axisof the amber, a dispersion cone at the upper end of said shaft, scrapers carried by said shaft for scraping a the bottoms of said liquid chamber and of said mud chamber, means for supplying 'water under pressure to said shaft,,a worm and worm wheelfor .annularspaces between said baflle'cones. and the outer shell, a rotary hollow perforated shaft nude loo rotatingsaidshaft, and means for carrying I all the mud and liquid contents. from: the b ttom ofsaid mud chamber. 

